For the third time in the last three years, bills (H.112, S.89)
to label products containing genetically engineered materials have
been introduced in the Vermont legislature. A similar bill was
passed out of the House Agriculture Committee late in the 2012
session with a strong 9 to 1 vote, but failed to move forward as
time ran out in the session.
This year, Rep. Kate Webb, the lead sponsor of last year's bill,
and Sen. David Zuckerman have introduced new bills. The House bill
(H.112) has tri-partisan support including 50 co-sponsors, and the
support of the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, Carolyn
Partridge. The Senate bill was introduced with 11 co-sponsors. This
show of support represents 1/3 of the members of the members of the
legislature.
The Vermont Right to Know Coalition (VTRTK), a partnership of
NOFA VT, Rural Vermont, VPIRG, & Cedar Circle Farm, is
cosponsoring a series of Public Forums around the state to rally
support for the bills and assist Vermonters in their efforts to
persuade lawmakers to make the labeling of GE foods a priority this
legislative session.
According to a poll by the UVM Center for Rural Studies, over
90% of Vermonters support the labeling of foods containing
genetically engineered materials, which can be found in 70-80% of
processed foods sold in the United States. A growing number of
published international studies indicate significant health and
environmental concerns associated with the production and
consumption of GE foods, and over 50 countries around the world
already mandate that they be explicitly labeled.
"The FDA does not require or conduct independent safety studies
of GE foods. Instead, GE food developers themselves decide what
information they will provide to the agency, and based on that data
alone, the agency has systematically approved GE foods for mass
consumption," says Cat Buxton, organizer and educator with Cedar
Circle Farm. "The state of Vermont has a fundamental interest in
protecting its citizens from health and other risks of GE foods,
and ensuring they have the information they need to make informed
choices about the food they eat and feed their families."
Similar bills have already been introduced in over a dozen
states. Over 30 states in all are working to pass GE labeling
legislation. California's attempt to pass Proposition 37 last year,
a citizens' ballot measure to require labeling of GE food, met with
over $45 million in opposition expenditures by the bio-tech
industry and corporate food producers, ultimately defeating the
bill by a small margin.
In Montpelier, bio-tech industry lobbyists have been challenging
efforts by the state to regulate the proliferation and sales of
genetically engineered seeds and products for over 15 years,
despite widespread support for those measures from Vermont
citizens.
VTRTK Public Forums pushing for the common sense labeling of
foods containing genetically engineered materials will be held
around the state the week of Feb. 25. Nearby meetings
include:
¥ •Monday, Feb. 25, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., WHITE RIVER
JCT, St. Paul's Episcopal Church
¥ •Thursday, Feb. 28, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.,
MIDDLEBURY, American Legion Building
The public forums are being co-sponsored by local food co-ops
with support from Ben & Jerry's. The Vermont Right to Know
Coalition is a partnerhsip of NOFA VT, Rural Vermont, VPIRG, &
Cedar Circle Farm.
